“When Warren Zevon needs more power on this album, all he has to do is snap his fingers. For, if Excitable Boy is clearly a singular triumph, it is also a collective one. Brassy as Zevon is, he's given comparable backing by the rhythm sections of three superlative rock & roll bands (Linda Ronstadt's, the Section, Fleetwood Mac), exceptionally crisp and complementary production by Jackson Browne and guitarist Waddy Wachtel, and the kind of sound quality (by Gred Ladanyi, who engineered Browne's Running on Empty) that most musicians would kill for. Musically, Zevon's stalwart singing and rigorous, razor-sharp piano playing hold down the fort, while Wachtel, who brandishes an armory of guitars, takes the high ground with such audacity he nearly steals the action at times. On "Johnny Strikes Up the Band" (like the second LP's "Mohammed's Radio," a "tribute to rock & roll"), Wachtel simply picks up the song and carries it away, giving it back only for the vibrant vocals. ...

“"Werewolves of London" is one of those indescribable, half-sung/half-spoken, stupid/profound anthems that captures something of a city and a time. With Wachtel's guitar prowling through the rolling fog like Jack the Ripper, Zevon reduces the whole world to a mythic howl, and you feel exhilarated.”-Rolling Stone review by Paul Nelson Mar 23, 1978

Set lists varied at concerts, but most included these songs in some order:VeracruzJohnny Strikes Up The BandTenderness On The BlockMohammed's RadioExcitable BoyAccidentally Like A MartyrNighttime In The Switching YardA Certain GirlRoland The Headless Thompson GunnerWerewolves Of LondonLawyers, Guns And MoneyPoor, Poor Pitiful MeDesperados Under The Eaves I'll Sleep When I'm Dead

I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand,Walking through the streets of Soho in the rain.He was looking for the place called Lee Ho Fook's,Going to get a big dish of beef chow mein.Ahhwooooo... Werewolves of London, Ahwooooo!Ahhwooooo... Werewolves of London, Ahwooooo!

You hear him howling around your kitchen door,You better not let him in.Little old lady got mutilated late last night,Werewolves of London again.Ahhwooooo... Werewolves of London, Ahwooooo!Ahhwooooo... Werewolves of London, Ahwooooo! Huh!

Well, I saw Lon Chaney walking with the Queen,Doing the Werewolves of London.I saw Lon Chaney, Jr. walking with the Queen,Doing the Werewolves of London.I saw a werewolf drinking a pina colada at Trader Vic's,And his hair was perfect.Ahhwooooo... Werewolves of London, Huh! Draw blood!Ahhwooooo... Werewolves of London...